Case construction



April 18, 1961 PARSONS 2,980,285

CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTYS Apnl 18, 1961 a. B. PARSONS 2,930,285

CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. YGEOFGE 8. P/MSO/VS A OR EY5 United States Patent f 2,980,285 CASE CONSTRUCTION George B. Parsons, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., assignor to SkydYyni, Inc., Port Jervis, N.Y., a corporation of New Filed Sept. 10, 1957, Ser. No. 683,057 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-84) breaks for the entrance of moisture to the inside of the case. Cases are often dropped on the corners and such dropping of a case on the corner often causes the sides or edges adjacent the corner to open up and permit the entrance of moisture. Some cases have been provided with a steel cap to fit three sides of the corner and have been riveted or otherwise secured to the sides. However, that construction is relatively costly and does not always give the desired protection to the case. Using a cap to fit three sides necessitates riveting the cap to the exterior of the case in three planes. Drawing up the rivets in two planes in elementary but unless there is a perfect fit it is difficult to pull up the rivets in'the third plane. 'Also the rivets tend to elongate the holes and cause leakage.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved corner construction for'a case which will be strong, readily assembled, easy to hold in assembled position'and eas to seal against the entrance of moisture. Other objects and various features of novelty and invention will be hereinafter pointed out or will become apparent to those skilled inthe art.

Briefly stated, in a preferred form of 'theinvention, I provide corner blocks for the corners of the case, and each corner blockhas three arms at right angles to each other. The sides of the case at each corner-haveedge rails cooperating withsaidarms for holding the :rails and sides securely to saidcorner block. Theblock is further- 'more provided with means for forming a grooveior receiving a sealing compound forsealing the corneragain'st the entrance of moisture. The edge rails forming parts of the sides may be in the form of extrusions having channels for receiving the arms and side panels, or they may be in the form of other shapes such as angles arranged for embracing the arms and also for holding the side panels. for assisting in stacking the cases so as to avoid slipping of the stacked cases.

In the drawings which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention: 7

Fig. l is a more or less schematic view of a case which is shown as completely closed, but it will be understood that the case is so shown only for the sake of illustration and normally a case would have the top portion separate so as to act as a lid;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the case shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the lower corner of thecase shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner block, illustrating features of the invention and taken more or less in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

The corner blocks may be provided with means 1 "ice in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, showing the comer blocks of two cases, one piled on the other;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, to illustrate a different type of edge rail;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view through the construction shown in Fig. 7.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the eightcorners of the box are all duplicates of each other, but it is to be understood that it is not always necessary to make all of the corners duplicates of each other because lids, for example, may be somewhat difierently formed. However, in the preferred form shown, all of the corners will be described as being duplicates of each other.

At each corner there is what may be termed a corner block 5 of more or less cubical form, having three arms 6 projecting at right angles to each other. These arms may be formed integrally with the corner block or cast in the block or other wise formed, but the arms'and block should be rigidly secured to each other. The corner block and arms are preferably metal. p

The three sides coming together at each corner, for example as shown in Fig. 13, may each consist of'an edge rail '7, which has channels ,8-9 at right angles to each other for receiving panels 10-3-11, as will be clear. In theparticular form shownin Figs. .1 to 6, these edge rails are in the form of extrusions in which the channels 3-9 are so arranged that one is deeper than the other. The deeper channel in each'case is passed over and'fits on an arm 6 of the corner block, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The deep channels 8 are de epenough .so as to receive the arms 6 and also the panels lllshow'n in Figs. 2 and 5. The panel 10 is cutaway to some extent,as illustrated in Fig. 3, so. as to fit down into the channels, ex-

cept-where'the arms 6 projects'into the channels, '.but even there the channels are deep enough so that a part of the panel 10 -fits in the channels 8. One of the upper side panels 11"is also cut awayso asto make way for the upstanding arm 6, but even there part of the panel ll fits in a vertical-channel in the vertical edge rail7. The other side panelll is not cut away since it simply abuts the edge of the upstanding arm 6, orratherthe bottom of the shallow channel, as will be clear (Fig. 2).

Allof the edge rails extend up all the way to the block and abut the sides of'the block. The edge rails may be secured as by riveting directly to the .blocjlr or to the arms 6, or theledge rails may be riveted or otherwise secured to all of thefpanelsfand the pauels'thus may serve to hold the three sides, including the edge rails 7, in position against the sides "of the block. 7 J

The block itself "has an upstanding lip 12 on each of the three adjacent sides where the arms 6 are located. This lip 12 defines the outer side of a groove or channel between the sidesof the edge rails or extrusions and the lips, and this groove is convenient for holding and protecting sealing compounds 13 shown particularly in Fig. 5. Thus, when the edge rails and the panels are all rigidly secured together with the block, a very strong and tight joint results and the sealing compound may seal all of the spaces or joints between the block and adjacent panels and edge extrusions. This protected groove between the lip 12. and the sides of the extrusions is in ex- 16-17 parallel to each other and having corresponding legs embracing the arms '6 and having the other corresponding legs spaced apart for receiving the side panel, as heretofore described.

i the cornersecurely,

The legs of the angleswhich embrace the legs 6 are also long enough so as to form a channel for embracing apart of the adjacent side panel designed to fit in such achannel; Heregagaimthe angles are riveted to the panels and also preferably to the arms 6 so as to provide 7 a perfectly rigid and firm joint between the sides and the edge rails and the corner block itself. Of course, it-Would be possible to use extrusions, as shown in Fig, '3, for one or more of the adjacent sides and separate'angle s, as

*shownin-Figs. 7 and 8; for the sides at any particular corner. However, normally the rails'are formed as duplicates of each other and are in the form of extrusions or 7 separate angles.

ln the preferred term, the corner'blocks are so designed-asto permit ready-'stacking'ofthe 'cases one on 'the other, so as to prevent slipping of'the'istacked cases. Thus, as shown inFig. 6,the top block of one case and V,

the bottom block of the case above'it, have coacting members for preventing slipping sidewaysl In the form shown, the top block of the lower case has a depression be'very strong and The cornersinste ad of being 'mitredor abutted, or otherwise secured together in'rather unsecure fashion; are all securely held on the arms of a corner block so' that there is no danger of having the sides come apart so long as they aresecured to the block. N0 outside steel protecting cover member is required at the corner since the block itself servestor purposes of a steel reinforcing shield often usedjin cases of the prior art. The case, When time rivete'd or otherwise secured togethen is designedjtolhold permanently and the sealing compound is definitely "held in the groove surabut.

-,ing. V o r The cover fblock is preferably ofilight metal like an 'Thecases are arranged for'readyand safe stack No reliance need be placed on mitred corners or butt joints, since applicants corners are otherwise and more securely held than has hitherto been possible by prior art methods. r

While the'invention has been described in considerable detail and preferred forms illustrated, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

' I; claim: e I r t 1; A corner construction for a case having side panels comprising a substantially cubic corner block member, said block memberrhavingithree of its sides'with, outer surfaces all at substantially right angles relative to each other, an arm member extending from each of the re- 7 maining three sides of said block member so that the three arms extend. at substantially right angles relative to each other, three edge rail members each having a "first channel receiving both. an arm and one: edge of a side panel therein and a second channel at a substantially right angle tof said first channel receiving one. edge of another side panel therein, and a lipformed around the periphery of said outer surfaces of said corner block member to receive a sealingcompound. V, Y 1 a 2, A corner construction for a cases/ having side pane'ls,

comprising a substantial ly cubic corner block jmei'nber,

said block member having three ofits, sides withouter "surfaces all at substantially right angles ,relativ efto each other, 'an arm meinbenextending from eaeh 'offthe re,- maining three sides ofjsaid 'bl'ockf'membe'rgso that the three arms extend at substantially'right angles relative to each other, edge rail members forming a first 7 channel receiving both'an arniand oneedge of a side panel 7 rounding the adjacen t'sides of the block wherethe sides 3 therein and a seciond channel at asubst antia'lly right angle to said first channel receivingone edge oflanother side paneltherein, each of said'pane'ls b'eing not ched to fit 'o'verlsaid block 'membe'ramhe corner, and a lip formed 7 around theiipe'riph'ery off said outer, suriacesof said aluminum alloy, and the arms may be integral or separate as described. 3' However the' block .and armsare rigid and in effect integraLj The edge rails'i'are preterably extrusions of light metal as arelthe substitute separate channels, when employed. 'lheside'panels are preferably sheet metal clad panels of ,light materialsuch gas balsa wood, fibre, or;other desired material. Thejm'etal cove preferably sheet aluminum 'ering for the, side panels, is or the i'liker'. i V 7' a I The corner blockis generally superior to a'prior corner including a sheet" steeljcover for the corner;

With the corner blockya case may be dro'ppedand the corner block'may become dented ordeformed without in any way impairing its usefulnesslasa means forholding 2,767,876 MaUtIICIZQ.; 5 a t corner bloc'leniember to' receive a sealing compound. Matia Cited in the file (it m tate-a: VUrurEDs'rATEsPAreNrs'i #936,451 

